Calls Setup on Pi

[jsoergel]

Anyone willing to help a noob out with getting my Calls feed up and running on a Pi 4? I have everything hooked up, flashed, etc., but I can't seem to get Trunk Recorder to work. I have no experience with Pi and I'm in over my head!

 

[Kingscup]

The easiest way to start is to use the Broadcastify Raspberry Pi image. It is located here.

You will have to create a config.json. Examples are located here.

If you have already done those things, you will have to be more specific on your actual problem.

 

[kslager]

Anyone willing to help a noob out with getting my Calls feed up and running on a Pi 4? I have everything hooked up, flashed, etc., but I can't seem to get Trunk Recorder to work. I have no experience with Pi and I'm in over my head!

Have you applied with Broadcastify to ingest a particular system/tower? What SDR are you using with your Pi4?

 

[jsoergel]

Have you applied with Broadcastify to ingest a particular system/tower? What SDR are you using with your Pi4?

The application is approved, it’s for the Columbus City Simulcast on MARCS. I have an Airspy R2 hooked up, and I’ve created a config.json using a copy of the template, but I have no clue what I need to do for editing it to receive that site.

 

[Kingscup]

Post a redacted version of your config. I don’t have much experience with TRS calls as mine is conventIonal analog but I can give some input along with others.

Usually, there is an error message when you start the program. Is there a messsage?

Open a terminal before you start it and type.

tail -f /home/pi/bcfy/logs/trunk-recorder.log

Start the feed. This will show any error messages.

 

[jsoergel]

Post a redacted version of your config. I don’t have much experience with TRS calls as mine is conventIonal analog but I can give some input along with others.

Usually, there is an error message when you start the program. Is there a messsage?

Open a terminal before you start it and type.

tail -f /home/pi/bcfy/logs/trunk-recorder.log

Start the feed. This will show any error messages.

I'm positive the config is why it's not running. All I did so far was make a copy of the one under "Templates," which was only to put a file in that folder in preparation to edit it. I have absolutely no experience with making the actual changes.

I'm using the Airspy, and I know how to locate the serial and whatnot - but I don't know what I should be putting in the config. It's a P25 system...could I use the "config-p25-rtl.json" file on github? Or do I need something else?

Like I said, completely new at this.

 

[Kingscup]

Ok, I made a config.json file for you. You will need to modify it with your settings and remove < and anything after that.

{
    "ver": 2,
    "sources": [{
        "center": ###,     <-center channel here
        "rate": ##,      <-rate here
        "gain": ##,     <-gain here
        "digitalRecorders": ##,     <-how many recorders you want?
        "driver": "osmosdr",
        "device": " "    <-airspy?
    
    }],
    "systems": [{
        "control_channels": [###, ###, ###],
        "type": " ", <- p25?
        "shortName": " ", <-pick a short name
        "digitalLevels": ##, <-volume levels
        "audioArchive": false, <-save uploaded files?
        "callLog": false,
        "broadcastifyApiKey": " ",  <-Api Key
        "broadcastifySystemId": " " <-System ID
}],
    "frequencyFormat": "hz",
    "broadcastifyCallsServer": "https://api.broadcastify.com/call-upload"
}

This is a good web page to look at to help refine your config if you haven't already looked at it.

trunk-recorder/docs/CONFIGURE.md at master · TrunkRecorder/trunk-recorder

Records calls from a Trunked Radio System (P25 & SmartNet) - TrunkRecorder/trunk-recorder

github.com

 

[jsoergel]

Ok, I made a config.json file for you. You will need to modify it with your settings and remove < and anything after that.

{
    "ver": 2,
    "sources": [{
        "center": ###,     <-center channel here
        "rate": ##,      <-rate here
        "gain": ##,     <-gain here
        "digitalRecorders": ##,     <-how many recorders you want?
        "driver": "osmosdr",
        "device": " "    <-airspy?
   
    }],
    "systems": [{
        "control_channels": [###, ###, ###],
        "type": " ", <- p25?
        "shortName": " ", <-pick a short name
        "digitalLevels": ##, <-volume levels
        "audioArchive": false, <-save uploaded files?
        "callLog": false,
        "broadcastifyApiKey": " ",  <-Api Key
        "broadcastifySystemId": " " <-System ID
}],
    "frequencyFormat": "hz",
    "broadcastifyCallsServer": "https://api.broadcastify.com/call-upload"
}

This is a good web page to look at to help refine your config if you haven't already looked at it.

trunk-recorder/docs/CONFIGURE.md at master · TrunkRecorder/trunk-recorder

Records calls from a Trunked Radio System (P25 & SmartNet) - TrunkRecorder/trunk-recorder

github.com

Many thanks for this. I edited everything in, but Trunk Recorder still won't run; says "code=exited, status=1/FAILURE."

When only running the check for errors, it shows "AIRSPY_ERROR_NOT_FOUND." Not sure why...I have the correct serial entered and it works on Gqrx when I open that.

 

[mikedaly]

Im pretty sure you need a couple things in the config file. It would be better if you just posted the Config.json file for use to see.


Mike

for Airspy
1. "device": "airspy=0x260868C83278989B"
2. looks like ifgain, mixgain,lnagain.
I also found this for the airspy.
{
"ver": 2,
"sources": [
{
"center": 154000000.0,
"rate": 10000000,
"error": 350,
"ifGain": 10,
"mixGain": 10,
"lnaGain": 7,
"digitalRecorders": 8,
"analogRecorders": 6,
"driver": "osmosdr",
"device": "airspy=0x260868C83278989B"
}
also seems to be missing the modulation Type

modulation

​

"qpsk"

"qpsk" or "fsk4"

The type of digital modulation that the system uses. You do not need to specify this with conventionalDMR systems.

ifGain​	​	​	number	[AirSpy/hackrf only] sets the IF gain.
bbGain​	​	​	number	[hackrf only] sets the BB gain.
mixGain​	​	​	number	[AirSpy only] sets the MIX gain.
lnaGain​	​	​	number	[AirSpy/bladeRF only] sets the LNA gain.

 

[Kingscup]

Many thanks for this. I edited everything in, but Trunk Recorder still won't run; says "code=exited, status=1/FAILURE."

When only running the check for errors, it shows "AIRSPY_ERROR_NOT_FOUND." Not sure why...I have the correct serial entered and it works on Gqrx when I open that.

I am not positive but I believe the failure message may be related to TR not seeing the airspy. According to the TR link above, the serial number is not needed for 1 airspy. Try this link below and see if you can try different configurations to see if it works.

Multiple Airspys Trunk-Recorder

Does anyone know how to specify multiple AirSpy receivers with trunk-recorder? I've tried: airspy=1 airspy,device_id=1 This doesn't work... they all default to the first instance. Any ideas?

forums.radioreference.com

 

[jsoergel]

Okay, Trunk Recorder is finally running, but it's not catching much, if anything. Sounds like it's not decoding properly. What should I tinker with and how do I go about it?

 

[Kingscup]

Probably tinker with the gain settings. I have also seen people with “ppm” in their configs and that would probably be helpful. You can get these values through the GQRX program.

 

[jsoergel]

Probably tinker with the gain settings. I have also seen people with “ppm” in their configs and that would probably be helpful. You can get these values through the GQRX program.

That's what I've been doing. Haven't really been able to get it to receive correctly, though. Changing the PPM on GQRX doesn't seem to have any effect when I do it, but I will give it another shot.